Gaspar Zarrías: impunity shielded by political power
Spain's Constitutional Court overturns Gaspar Zarrías' conviction in the ERE case after the Supreme Court upheld it. The former Andalusian deputy premier avoids prison amid accusations of impunity.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Gaspar Zarrías: impunity shielded by political power
Spain's Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) overturned Gaspar Zarrías' conviction in the ERE case, after the Supreme Court had upheld it. The former deputy premier of the Junta de Andalucía, who has accumulated decades of power, has dodged prison thanks to the backing of the very court chaired by Cándido Conde-Pumpido. The move is reminiscent of a video game with infinite lives: whenever the ordinary courts close in, the institutions of the state come to the rescue.
The overturning of the ERE conviction
Zarrías was convicted of misconduct in office and embezzlement in the fraudulent ERE scandal (a scheme of fake early-retirement payouts), which cost the Andalusian public purse hundreds of millions of euros. Yet the Constitutional Court, whose composition has been questioned for its politicisation, threw out the verdict. The formal argument was a abusa of rights, but the practical outcome is that one of the architects of the ERE case walks away without punishment. The decision closes a circle many see as the very height of impunity.
The Jaén tram and other shadows
It is not the only case tainting Zarrías. The Jaén tram, a pharaonic and endlessly unfinished project, was built under his tenure and is riddled with suspicions of cost overruns and sweetheart contracts. His ties to the network that controlled the PSOE in Jaén have been investigated, but the courts never went further. Zarrías, who by some accounts wrecked socialism in Jaén, still refuses to explain himself.
Political connections as a lifeline
Behind every judicial setback for Zarrías lies a network of institutional contacts. The ERE case is the most glaring example: whenever the ordinary courts ruled against him, the Constitutional Court, with its pogre majority, restored his freedom. The question that remains is how far a politician's power extends when it comes to using institutions as a shield. Meanwhile, Zarrías remains untouched, and Spain's judicial system is once again called into question.
What no analysis quite explains is why, given the accumulation of evidence and prior convictions, a politician can appeal to the highest court and obtain an acquittal that the public perceives as a fix.
Related debates in the forum
Spain's Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) overturned Gaspar Zarrías' conviction in the ERE case, after the Supreme Court had upheld it. The former deputy premier of the Junta de Andalucía, who has accumulated decades of power, has dodged prison thanks to the backing of the very court chaired by Cándido Conde-Pumpido. The move is reminiscent of a video game with infinite lives: whenever the ordinary courts close in, the institutions of the state come to the rescue.
The overturning of the ERE conviction
Zarrías was convicted of misconduct in office and embezzlement in the fraudulent ERE scandal (a scheme of fake early-retirement payouts), which cost the Andalusian public purse hundreds of millions of euros. Yet the Constitutional Court, whose composition has been questioned for its politicisation, threw out the verdict. The formal argument was a abusa of rights, but the practical outcome is that one of the architects of the ERE case walks away without punishment. The decision closes a circle many see as the very height of impunity.
The Jaén tram and other shadows
It is not the only case tainting Zarrías. The Jaén tram, a pharaonic and endlessly unfinished project, was built under his tenure and is riddled with suspicions of cost overruns and sweetheart contracts. His ties to the network that controlled the PSOE in Jaén have been investigated, but the courts never went further. Zarrías, who by some accounts wrecked socialism in Jaén, still refuses to explain himself.
Political connections as a lifeline
Behind every judicial setback for Zarrías lies a network of institutional contacts. The ERE case is the most glaring example: whenever the ordinary courts ruled against him, the Constitutional Court, with its pogre majority, restored his freedom. The question that remains is how far a politician's power extends when it comes to using institutions as a shield. Meanwhile, Zarrías remains untouched, and Spain's judicial system is once again called into question.
What no analysis quite explains is why, given the accumulation of evidence and prior convictions, a politician can appeal to the highest court and obtain an acquittal that the public perceives as a fix.
Related debates in the forum
- Rodríguez Zapatero charged · 684 replies
- PLUS ULTRA · 254 replies
- Memes and political humour thread. Drop your memes here. · 510 replies
- Stale, congealed gossip: NN, Farrerons and Rubén Gisbert. · 64 replies
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (12 replies).
More summaries
-
ERE case: Spain's institutional drift and judicial independence under strain
An analysis of the institutional drift surrounding Spain's ERE case and the growing tension between political power and the independence of the Constitutional Court.
-
Ábalos Convicted: Spain’s EU Funds Scandal and Corruption
Ábalos’s conviction reopens debate on 135 billion euros in unaccounted EU funds. Is it a scapegoat or real cleanup?
-
Spain's masks scandal: UCO closes in on political management
An analysis of Spain's masks scandal: the UCO reveals a web of political corruption and public contracts under suspicion. Who is really being held accountable?
-
Sánchez vows to stay on for four more years, 'one way or another'
Pedro Sánchez says he will remain in power 'one way or another' for four more years. Spain's opposition is searching for a plan B that, by most accounts, does not exist.
-
Ariza, El Toro TV, puts Ayuso's flatterer Jiménez Losantos in his place... hahaha
Debate on the clash between Ariza and Jiménez Losantos. Spain's conservative media sphere has recently seen an exchange of statements that has caught users' attention.
-
Iustitia Europa: from challenging Spain's 9J election to suing the Government
Iustitia Europa challenged the European elections, filed complaints against ministers and is seeking to join cases such as Begoña Gómez's or Plus Ultra's. Court robes or votes?